Iconic Conversations: Stephen Walker, The Lemp Legacy

Join us each month for a thought-provoking speaker series that brings St. Louis history to life. Gateway Arch National Park and Jefferson National Parks Association are proud to host compelling talks by local authors and other knowledgeable guests who will explore a variety of topics relevant to the St. Louis region. You might learn about our city’s early beginnings, its architecture, our prominent leaders, the rise of the Gateway Arch, our civil rights struggles, and the best things to do around town. Book discussions will be followed by an author signing opportunity. 

All programs are free and no reservations are needed. They will be held at 2:00 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month in the rotunda of the historic Old Courthouse (11 N. 4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63102). The building is fully accessible, and a sign language interpreter will be on hand for each presentation. 

Author Stephen P. Walker is a native St. Louisan with a lifelong passion for local history and the paranormal. His fascination with the Lemp family began during his first visit to the Lemp Mansion in 1982—a visit that launched years of research in libraries, archives, and museums. That exploration of one of St. Louis’s most legendary families ultimately inspired him to write his first book.

Lemp: The Haunting History, the first book devoted entirely to the Lemp family, traces their rise as the brewing dynasty that once dominated the Midwest, their tragic decline during the era of Prohibition, and the lingering supernatural legacy said to haunt their grand mansion. Since its publication in 1989, the book has remained a regional bestseller and an essential resource for readers interested in the history, mystery, and hauntings of St. Louis.